Print edition for June 14, 2000

Letter: Mayor praised for Yucca stance: Few Nevada leaders have the guts to tell the truth concerning this issue, because of a fear of political persecution by a small handful of extreme left-wing environmental groups, Sen. Richard Bryan, and people pretending to be unbiased journalists.

Letter: Moms' march was distorted by the media: The Washington Post referred to "several hundred thousand" in attendance; the Boston Globe described the gathering as being "at least 200,000."

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Drink in fun of whiskey society: Still looking for just the right gift for Father's Day? Is the dad you're shopping for an appreciator of Scotch whiskey? Chances are he'd enjoy a membership in the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Stirring groundbreaking for Stirling Club: Elizabeth Foyt; Developers Donald and Jeffrey Soffer recently hosted a lavish cocktail reception at Turnberry Place, marking the groundbreaking of Stirling Club, the private facility that will complement the condominium towers on Paradise Road.

Editorial: Don't rush vote on a new hospital: Some pediatricians want to put this before the voters quickly, but there has been virtually no public input on this proposal. A task force, which was created by the County Commission after the first bid for a new hospital was defeated, should be given enough time to determine whether it is needed. And it's not as if there is no pediatric hospital care currently: UMC has 70 beds for children and Sunrise Hospital, which opposes a children's hospital, has a children's wing. Rather than turning this into a political football, Kenny and her supporters should allow the task force to ...

Columnist Jon Ralston: This is Congress' idea of 'open mind'?: WASHINGTON -- In the same room where the first votes were cast to forever tarnish Bill Clinton, the same House committee Tuesday weighed whether to pass the first article of impeachment against Nevada's gamers.

Las Vegas area fishing report: Stripers are being found in a number of locations including the Pyramid Island, the tires at Las Vegas Bay Marina, Las Vegas Wash, Gypsum Wash and Government Wash in the Boulder Basin. Stewart's Point, Fire Bay and Rogers Bay have produced stripers recently for anglers who are fishing in the Overton Arm.

Columnist Peter Benton: Choosing greatest putter is a tough task: Peter Benton; This year is halfway through and it appears that everyone is still handing out awards for the past century.

Petitions to ban same-sex marriages will be filed Wednesday: Sandra Chereb; The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage said the petitions will be filed at 10 a.m. at the county clerk or voter registrar offices in each of Nevada's 17 counties.

Police still investigating woman's death: A preliminary autopsy has not determined the cause of death, but police still believe she died of suspicious circumstances. She was reported missing after she left her job at an Arby's restaurant.

Columnist Victoria Sun: UNLV's Knight comes up with a real gem in Askew: Victoria Sun; UNLV golf coach Dwaine Knight has done it again.

PCL Box: Stars 9, Sky Sox 1: E--Mendoza, Newhan, Davis, LaRocca. DP--Colorado Springs 2, Las Vegas 2. LOB--Colorado Springs 6, Las Vegas 10. 2B--Hiatt, Butler, Nicholson 3. 3B--Sosa. S--Cunnane 2. SB--Mendoza.

Auto racing schedules, winners and driver standings: Feb. 20 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Jarrett)

Police continue to search for additional heist suspects: Robert Macy; Meanwhile, Henderson police continue efforts to tie the March slaying of two security guards to last week's arrest of two men in the Las Vegas casino heists.

Editorial: An inane idea from up north: Maybe we shouldn't be surprised Elko County officials would look favorably upon such a scenario, the net effect of which would result in this state becoming the nation's dumping ground for 77,000 tons of man's deadliest waste. After all, Elko County officials already have demonstrated in recent years their contempt for the environment. Don't forget they used a grand jury to harass state wildlife officials and, most recently, Elko County officials say they will defy the Forest Service and rebuild a washed-out road near the Jarbidge River, an action that conservationists say will threaten the endangered bull trout.

Darr comes out swinging, leads Stars past Sky Sox: Steve Guiremand; The Stars' Mike Darr had a unique hitting strategy going into Tuesday night's 9-1 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at Cashman Field.

Obituaries for June 14, 2000: Shirley Arthur, 76, of Las Vegas died May 23 in Las Vegas. She was born April 18, 1922, in South Dakota. A resident for four years, she was a homemaker.

Rawlinson confirmation hearing delayed: But Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the hearing was canceled at the last minute when the committee could not find a majority member to act as chairman.

Pillow talk: Dreams might be telling you more than you think: Kirk Baird; Shortly after falling asleep she would dream she was lying on a bed while someone deliberately blew marijuana smoke in her face.

Dream Deciphering: Airplanes: Frequently symbolize change, transitions and attempts to reach new destinations. It's important to notice if the plane reaches its destination to determine where one feels they are in achieving that goal.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:10 p.m.

California teen's 66 leads Founders event: Victoria Sun; Zack Miller found out this morning that the toughest test of the 54-hole Las Vegas Founders' Legacy Junior tournament wasn't remaining calm enough to hand in his scorecard after he fired a 6-under-par 66 in the opening round Tuesday.

Schools look to Service for teachers: The district is advertising in military publications, pitching the idea of making the move to civilian life by becoming a teacher in the state's largest school district.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Tag process prompts gripes: Paula DelGiudice; Big game tags are out and hunters are busy making plans for the fall, either for their Nevada hunt or for a hunt out-of-state (if they weren't among those lucky enough to draw a Nevada tag).

Casino Aztar pitches entertainment district in Evansville: The Phoenix-based company has the land for the project, after spending $2.2 million in September to purchase a 7-acre parking lot near the casino. Now it must sell the idea to some hotel and restaurant chains.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Sheikh Charmer - Training at Santa Anita, draws good inner post for route opener, Pedroza on board for trainer Cerin. Inside Story - Solis scales Stute trainee, should get good trip in this heat, a factor throughout. Value Play -- Working Capital

Columnist Dean Juipe: Slow play sometimes inexcusable: Dean Juipe; She was a big ol' gal and exuberant to a fault.

'Foul Pole' remains fairly unpredictable: Dean Juipe; However unofficial the moniker, Andrew Golota has one of the great nicknames in sports.

New business project ticks off residents of old Nevada town: Brendan Riley; At 12,280 square feet, real estate investor Bettie Kanelos' project wouldn't amount to much in a larger city. It's about the size of two modern drug stores stacked atop one another.

Farmers markets bring business bonanza: Chaffee, who grows organic crops 30 miles north of Reno, sells them at markets in Reno, Sparks and Carson City.

A look at the hotel-casino complex the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa proposed in Ashwaubenon: KNOWN SITES BEING EXPLORED: Howard, Hobart, Lawrence, Exeter.

We want some seafood, mama: Max Jacobson; Fresh fish, primed for the barbecue or saute pan, is almost perfect food.

Burning cash, LV Internet firm delays Nasdaq effort: David Strow; A Las Vegas Internet firm called off plans to move its shares to the Nasdaq exchange, saying market conditions make the move too difficult at this time.

Residents provide input for recreation center: Diana Sahagun; North Las Vegas resident Laura Utter is looking for a safe, fun-filled place for her rambunctious 2-year-old daughter, Annie, to play. A place that is well-lighted, has a sparkling pool, and offers activities such as arts and crafts.

Big media merger in the works: Two people close to the talks told the New York Times that Vivendi would pay more than $70 a share for Seagram, whose stock closed Tuesday at $53 a share, up $2.375, as rumors of the merger circulated first in Europe and then in the United States.

Lawsuits allege rough UNLV police conduct: Kim Smith; Two lawsuits were filed against the UNLV Police Department Tuesday by women claiming they were treated roughly during separate incidents.

Former Station Casinos outside counsel pleads guilty to fraud: ST. LOUIS -- Attorney Michael Lazaroff often thanked his clients with extravagant gifts, including tickets to Backstreet Boys concerts and trips to Las Vegas.

Resort tries bolstering its tourist base: David Strow; After months of campaigning to draw locals, executives at the Regent Las Vegas are launching a new campaign designed to shore up out-of-town traffic at the upscale Summerlin resort.

State board OKs settlements: CARSON CITY -- A former math professor at UNLV will receive an $830,000 settlement for being fired in 1990 without a required pre-termination hearing, the state Board of Examiners decided Tuesday.

Employee files NLRB complaint: The complaint was filed Monday by Jane Reidhead with the assistance of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation of Springfield, Va., and takes issue with a letter issued by MGM Grand President Bill Hornbuckle to employees June 1.

Sprint chief acknowledges merger may not be approved: Ted Sickinger; KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp. Chief Executive William T. Esrey acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that his company's proposed merger with WorldCom Inc. may not receive approval from antitrust regulators.

Funds would be left high and dry if wildfires strike: The emergency funds held by the legislative and the executive branches are nearly depleted because of higher than expected payouts.

Thousands of pages reveal little new in Edwards trial: Edwards, his son Stephen, aide Andrew Martin, Bobby Johnson and Eunice cattleman Cecil Brown were convicted in May of trying to rig riverboat casino licenses during the 1990s.

Nevada tops U.S. in rate of death penalties: Birusk Tugan; Nevada has the highest death-penalty rate in the country, condemning nearly 11 people for every 100,000 in population, according to the Columbia University law school study that has reheated the death penalty controversy.

Council skips full introduction for pay raise proposal: Greg Harman; The Boulder City Council didn't read the bill that would institute a major pay raise for council members and the mayor next year, opting instead to read only the title of the bill that will be voted on next meeting.

Rawlinson faces routine Senate queries today: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Federal Appeals Court nominee Johnnie Rawlinson of Las Vegas is scheduled to field questions from a Senate committee today.

Community news briefs for June 14, 2000: University Medical Center's Bright Beginnings, a free program offered to parents, is hosting a free infant CPR class 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in the Bright Beginnings classrooms, 1815 W. Charleston Blvd.

Studies give Lake Mead clean bill of health: Two separate studies of Nevada and Arizona infants exposed to the rocket fuel booster ammonium perchlorate did not detect any immediate ill effects from the substance draining into the Colorado River from a Las Vegas industrial complex.

Savvy wine buy: St. Francis Zinfandel '97: Max Jacobson; Zinfandel is an exotic black grape unique to California, although new studies relating to DNA have traced its origins to Croatia. This deep red wine, not to be confused with the pink-colored White Zinfandel, was recently given a lofty and well-deserved 91 out of 100 points by the prestigious Wine Spectator. It's heavily oaked, full of toasty, smoky flavors and complex with hints of plum and other red fruits. It should drink well for at least five more years.

City council briefs for June 14, 2000: Solar and wind energy may be a step closer to Eldorado Valley since the Boulder City Council's final approval Tuesday night of a memorandum of understanding with the Nevada Test Site Development Corp.

Suit filed in death at county jail: According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in District Court, Rodney Dean Casbar died June 14, 1998, two days after being jailed.

Microsoft, feds spar over appeals venue: Microsoft attempted to better its chances of having its appeal of antitrust violations heard by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has been sympathetic in the past, while the DOJ filed to have the case fast-tracked directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

School district to name top cop: Jace Radke; With new superintendent Carlos Garcia set to take over for outgoing superintendent Brian Cram on July 5, the Clark County School Board is ready to announce who will fill another of the district's top administrative posts.

Mattsen loses try to get county to pay legal bills: Kim Smith; A bid by David Mattsen to have Clark County begin paying his attorney failed this morning, but the county could still end up paying for some of his expenses.

Senate bill includes Nevada projects: WASHINGTON -- The full Senate is set to vote, likely this week, on a $54.7 billion transportation funding bill, which includes millions for Nevada projects.

Saturday night is back in Hot August Nights festivities: But the shortened schedule took a bite out of attendance and tourism dollars.

Local news briefs for June 14, 2000: An accidental fire at Club Utopia caused $100,000 in damage Monday night, according to Clark County fire officials.

Lawmakers consider new generation of computers: CARSON CITY -- A select committee of legislators is talking about getting rid of the laptop computers acquired just two years ago and getting more sophisticated, lighter and faster computers for the 2001 Legislature.

Defense claims new evidence against Pope's father: Kim Smith; A defense attorney for a teen-ager accused of gunning down his father in January has uncovered more evidence they hope to use to show the 62-year-old man died as a result of his abusive behavior.

Murphy lawyer under fire in Binion probe: A private detective investigating Ted Binion's slaying said today he received information early in the probe that Las Vegas lawyer William Knudson helped Sandy Murphy store valuables taken from the gambling figure's home after his death.

Effort to skate past park plan falls short: Greg Harman; Entrenched differences on the proposed Boulder City skateboard parks surfaced again among members of the Boulder City Council.

Swiss plan second Summerlin resort: David Strow; Copyright 2000 Las Vegas Sun

Summerlin developer sues county over tax methods: Grace Leong; Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the Summerlin master-planned community, says in a lawsuit it's being overcharged for property taxes by Clark County and is demanding nearly $1 million in refunds.

Emotional testimony: Greg Tuttle; Peter Talamantez had a knack for electronics.

Movie shooting leaves some motorists fuming: The movie "The Mexican" stars Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, and is being filmed in several locations in Southern Nevada.

Tribes sued for slot taxes: The tribes have argued the 16 percent revenue sharing payment, required by compacts the tribes signed with the state, is illegally high and have refused to pay.

Probe of crash that killed teens ongoing: "All I can tell you now is that there will be no report today -- it is still under investigation," said Jimmie Garrett, safety manager for Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section.